The first India vs New Zealand ODI match was played on June 14, 1975, at the Old Trafford in Manchester during the 1975 World Cup. Since then the two sides have played each other in 110 ODI matches with India having the upper hand with 55 wins, while the Blackcaps have won 49 ODI matches.
Ahead of the New Zealand-India three-match ODI series in November 2022, a total of 50 centuries have been recorded in the ODI matches played between the two countries.
Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of the highest individual score in India vs New Zealand ODIs. On November 8, 1999, Tendulkar was unbeaten on 186 in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad. The Indian batting maestro hammered 20 boundaries and three sixes in the course of his incredible knock which was the then highest individual ODI score recorded.
Tendulkar was also involved in a 331-run stand along with Rahul Dravid for the second wicket as the pair recorded the highest ODI partnership for any wicket at that point. At present, Tendulkar and Dravid hold the third highest partnership in ODI cricket after John Campbell - Shai Hope (365 vs Ireland, May 2019) and Chris Gayle - Marlon Samuels (372 vs Zimbabwe, February 2015).
Interestingly, Dravid also scored his highest individual ODI score against New Zealand in that match. Tendulkar also holds the second highest score in India-New Zealand ODIs, his 163 not out in the Christchurch ODI of India’s tour of New Zealand in 2009 is the second best to his 186*. Former India skipper Virat Kohli scored 154 not out in 134 balls to help India chase a competitive 285 in the Mohali ODI of the 2016 five-match bilateral series in India.
The amusing fact is the top 10 highest individual scores in the India vs New Zealand ODI series are from India. Former New Zealand cricketer Nathan Astle’s 120 in the Rajkot ODI of the 1999 series is the best score by a New Zealand batter followed by current skipper Kane Williamson’s 118 in the Delhi ODI in 2016.
India vs New Zealand highest individual score in ODIs
| Position | Player Name | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s | Venue | Match Date |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 186* | 150 | 124 | 20 | 3 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad | November 8, 1999 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | 163* | 133 | 122.55 | 16 | 5 | AMI Stadium, Christchurch | March 8, 2009 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | 154* | 134 | 114.92 | 16 | 1 | Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | October 23, 2016 |
| 4 | Sourav Ganguly | 153* | 150 | 102 | 18 | 3 | Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior | November 11, 1999 |
| 5 | Rahul Dravid | 153 | 153 | 100 | 15 | 2 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad | November 8, 1999 |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma | 147 | 138 | 106.52 | 18 | 2 | Green Park, Kanpur | October 29, 2017 |
| 7 | Gautam Gambhir | 138* | 116 | 118.96 | 18 | 0 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | December 1, 2010 |
| 8 | Virender Sehwag | 130 | 134 | 97.01 | 15 | 2 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad | November 15, 2003 |
| 9 | Gautam Gambhir | 126* | 117 | 107.69 | 16 | 0 | Reliance Stadium, Vadodara | December 4, 2010 |
| 10 | Virender Sehwag | 125* | 74 | 168.91 | 14 | 6 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | March 11, 2009 |
FAQs
A. Shubman Gill holds the record for the highest individual score by a batter in ODIs involving India and New Zealand, as of November 2024.
A. Tom Latham holds the record for the highest individual score by a New Zealand batter in ODIs involving India and New Zealand, as of November 2024.
A. Virat Kohli registered his highest individual score of 154 not out in ODIs involving India and New Zealand, as of November 2024.
A. Michael Bracewell has scored the second-highest individual score for New Zealand in ODIs involving India and New Zealand, as of November 2024.
A. Sachin Tendulkar has scored the second-highest individual score for India in ODIs involving India and New Zealand, as of November 2024.
A. Sachin Tendulkar registered his highest individual score of 186 not out in ODIs involving India and New Zealand.
